Secret Surgery has a HUGE 3 page editorial in the International Journal of Aesthetic and Anti-Ageing Medicine...

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Sample
Facial Aesthetics Sleep Disorders Treating Acne Prime People Industry News
Nov/Dec 2011 Volume 1 Issue 6
Nov/Dec 2011
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Volume 1 Issue 6
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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AESTHETIC AND ANTI-AGEING MEDICINE
VOLUME
RESTORATION
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AESTHETIC AND ANTI-AGEING MEDICINE
coNseNsus
recommeNDatIoNs
PRP
aN objectIVe
eValuatIoN
HyALURONIC
ACID
safety aND
effIcacy
Novel approaches to
stress Merger
Batch PDF
reduction
prime-journal.com

2. ANALYSIS | medical tourism |
rising standards in
medical tourism:
threat or
opportunity?
Medical tourism often incites polarised views — defensive attitudes
among established professionals whose services are being eschewed versus
enthusiastic endorsement from users who have found a less expensive way
of accessing cosmetic surgery. Will these two ends of the industry ever meet
in the middle? Ashley Yeo investigates
M
edIcAL tourISM — aesthetic Plastic surgeons (BaaPs) are
travelling away from sceptical about such businesses,
local medical which they see as offering a cheap but
specialists, usually risky option for patients seeking such
to a foreign elective procedures. they highlight
destination, to take the dangers of individuals using
advantage of surgical procedures not untrained or unspecialised surgeons,
readily accessible at home — is growing against the sound advice of
in importance. It is not a new concept by professionals. (a recent high-profile
Ashley yeo, any means, but it has taken on a growing episode, in February 2011, involved a
Principal Analyst, Informa significance in the last 5 years as patients’ British woman who died after travelling
Business Information
knowledge of global healthcare systems overseas for buttock enhancement.)
email ashley.yeo@ and of services available beyond their in some cases, the established industry
informa.com
national borders has improved. feels that warnings are necessary, as in
this affects cosmetic surgery too. But the case of the controversial PiP (Poly
whereas surgeon and/or procedure implant Prosthesis) breast implants (now
quality, or even availability, is generally off the market), which were being sold
the driver for medical tourism — as well under a different name in some of the
as cost in certain cases — for aesthetic most popular cosmetic surgery tourism
surgery, cost is the main consideration. destinations around europe, and
in addition, some patients are lured regularly visited by patients seeking
by access to surgery denied them low-cost procedures.
by their domestic health service on
health grounds. Safety: the key issue
in the past, medical tourism has indeed, for prospective patients, the draw
suffered negative connotations, and still of lower-priced surgery can be powerful,
does in some circles. it has more often hence the inexorable rise in the popularity
than not been associated with poor of cosmetic surgery tourism. Furthermore,
quality of care, lack of follow-up and the latter is becoming more accepted as
potential costs to the national health an option as local practitioners
provider in the patient’s country of origin. increasingly recognise the value and,
industry associations such as the crucially, safety, of cosmetic surgery
london-based British association of procedures accessed abroad.
12 November/December 2011 | prime-journal.com

3. | medical tourism | ANALYSIS
dr Geraldine mcKeever, a
specialist trained in general
surgery, is among this group.
after 22 years as an NHs GP,
during 16 of which she also
specialised in acupuncture,
she left in 2004 to set up a
business in cosmetic medicine,
in Kent, uK. Her clinic, step Back
cosmetic medicine, run jointly with
dr chris davies, prides itself on
high cosmetic surgery standards and
aftercare across a wide range of procedures.
speaking to PRIME, dr mcKeever
said that for certain surgical cosmetic
procedures she is unable to undertake
(e.g. sun-damaged skin), she recommends
local plastic surgeons that she has done
business with. However, patients often
return to her from a consultation with
the local surgeons saying they cannot dr mcKeever plans to visit the facility the trend for
afford their prices. used by secret surgery, the emc instytut
cheaper surgery is offered in parts
potential uK patients to
medyczny unit, in Wroclaw, Poland, to
of europe, and dr mcKeever has been inspect the standards of surgery in look to surgeons overseas
approached by surgeons in Poland theatre and postoperative care. she has may disappoint local
and the czech republic, which offered an open mind but told PRIME that she practitioners, but it is a
to work with her if she referred patients remains to be convinced about the ability
to them. on a visit to inspect the to access high quality surgery at prices function of a free market.
former’s business, however, she found 5–6 times lower than that in the uK. the
that standards were not as high as had company’s growing list of patient the trend for potential uK patients to
been claimed. testimonials bears witness to a satisfied look to surgeons overseas may
customer base, however. disappoint local practitioners, but it is a
Better press the company complies with us function of a free market. 'i wish the uK
the other end of the spectrum — and part anaesthesiology standards to distinguish market was a bit broader, and was able
of the reason why cosmetic surgery healthy and unwell patients, and asks to decrease its hefty prices,' says dr
tourism is seemingly getting a better practitioners, such as dr mcKeever, mcKeever. While that remains the case,
press of late — are the businesses that to do a preoperative check involving her advice is that prospective patients
guarantee standards of care. the respiratory, cardiovascular and kidney looking overseas check that they are
1-year-old secret surgery is an example. function. if, after the patient returns home, dealing with an ethical company. the
the business is run by angela chouaib, there are complications, the company BaaPs’ advice is to spend time choosing
who was a plastic surgery patient herself has sought to set up arrangements the surgeon. While this is accepted
and decided to set up her own company whereby dr mcKeever and others can practice in the us, the average patient
when she saw gaps in the market for offer postoperative care for minor invests little time in this process, says
enhanced levels of care for patients. complications on a private basis. BaaPs president Fazel Fateh.
prime-journal.com | November/December 2011 13

4. ANALYSIS | medical tourism |
But cosmetic surgery traffic is Patient care
increasingly moving outside the uK. 'Patients need large amounts
dr mcKeever says that nowadays of support and mentoring.
approximately half of her consultations You need to feel able
result in patients eventually going to talk through your
abroad for surgery. 'only 4–5 years ago, i concerns — including moral
would have never seen a patient go concerns,' says ms chouaib.
abroad,' she says. this can happen both
she endorses the BaaPs’ exhortations during the consultation and
for patients to check that their chosen at the hospital in Wroclaw.
surgeon has received advanced training, the unit offers a full
but also observes that overseas surgeons range of plastic and
can do most procedures that uK-based cosmetic surgeries,
surgeons offer. she recommends that including hair transplants,
patients remain in the eu, and stresses as well as services such
that they should check what is available as obesity surgery.
in terms of before and after care. the focus is customer
ms chouaib’s secret surgery company service and price. 'a lot of
has recognised the need for and value of people cannot afford uK
such an approach. Her business operates prices. a 3-night hospital
a service for females that essentially stay for a tummy tuck in
comprises a consultation in Harley street, Poland costs £2800
london, and the surgery done in Poland, with secret surgery,
with a fully female team including a against £8500 at comparable
female anaesthetist. uK prices,' says ms chouaib.
every patient is different, and catering demand is apparent from the reconstructive plastic surgery is
for individuals’ preferences is vital. they 180 000 hits that her website received accepted under islam, but cosmetic
must be offered all options and be able to in the November 2010–January 2011 surgery is frowned on, so it is
feel relaxed and confident about what is post-launch period. something of a delicate matter. these
going on, including asking questions. With a view to tailoring the package to clients can choose secret surgery’s
Giving over control, or at least joint the customer, secret surgery also tunisian destination. the company is
decision-making, is part of the reason addresses niche markets, such as the unique in the uK for offering the service
why practices today become 'Pink Pound' market, for gay consumers; to muslims.
commercially successful. the 'Yummy mummy' market, for
For certain surgeries, overseas travel mothers with children who cannot Educating the market
packages can be several thousand depart in term time but who can build, 'What we are doing is educating people,
pounds cheaper than equivalent say, a tummy tuck and a breast lift into a giving them all the information and
procedures offered in the uK. that has 14-night family holiday in Poland making sure they’ve made the right
been the experience of ms chouaib, who during the summer months for choice. We give them confidence,' she
offers solutions for £6000 (against a £10 500– says. 'We’ve shaken up attitudes. our
patients who do not 12 000 equivalent price customers are not being ‘sold to’. it’s the
every patient is
feel accommodated by in the uK); and the little things that make the difference — this
local practitioners. different, and catering for early retirees market — the is not just a financial transaction.'
the established individuals’ preferences is 50–60-year-olds who may such businesses are successfully
operators see such vital. they must be offered all have higher levels of exploiting a niche that is growing all the
businesses as a disposable income. time. eventually, market forces will
competitive threat, which
options and be able to feel there may, of course, be inevitably result in some equalisation
potentially remove part relaxed and confident about cultural issues as well as of prices, but for the present, cosmetic
of their client base. But what is going on, including personal preferences. surgery tourism businesses that offer
others see it as an While these are taken high-quality surgery overseas and
asking questions.
opportunity. For instance, seriously, the extent to aftercare in their home country,
secret surgery began in which they are not met to with packages tailored to the patient’s
November 2010 when ms chouaib the client’s satisfaction has fuelled the needs, are both innovating and
crystallised what was initially a hobby growing trend of niche operators disrupting the market.
into a business. Her website-based offering medical tourism cosmetic
company seeks to facilitate surgery surgery packages.
overseas by making all the arrangements, ms chouaib’s business also caters for
interacting with surgeons and helping muslim customers, who may have special
with the predictable language barriers for cultural or religious reasons for wanting
prospective cosmetic surgery patients. to keep their surgery low profile.
14 November/December 2011 | prime-journal.com